Gemotions

The air smelled of stale coffee and forgotten dreams. He pushed past the clutter of unwanted items, his shoulders hunched. Then, he spotted him. Theodore. One eye missing, stuffing spilling from a seam, but still, undeniably, Theodore.

The young woman running the sale pointed a bored finger. “Two bucks,” she said, without even glancing up. Two bucks. This…This felt like a personal affront.

He could feel a heat rising in his face. He had carried Theodore everywhere. They had shared so much, witnessed so much. This woman, she had no idea! He would have paid anything to protect him. Anything. But two dollars it was. He paid, feeling a tremor in his hands as he gently scooped Theodore into his arms.